Tag Archives: design

Presenting My Collection Concepts

Good Morning lovely!

I finally got some time and inspiration to sit down and start sketching out some of the Sleepy Hollow Shadows collection. I went outside in the sunshine that we had and started to quick sketch some of my designs. I got through about 6 when Missy and the rest of the team came out to join me and became interested in what it was I was drawing.  Well, one thing led to another and next thing you know it turned into a whole Oral Presentation Practice for presenting my collection to a pretend buyer.  OMGGGGGGGGGG. I was very nervous in front of everyone and couldn’t really understand why but I’m glad Shenlei made me do it. I gave a short presentation that introduced myself as well as FRI and our relationship. I also mentioned what it was that FRI does as well as an introduction to my collection. I also went through the six sketches and pointed out my elements and motifs as well as thoughts behind it.

It was a little frustrating because every time I used the word “um” they would insist I start over! lol..I think I had to do it about 6 or 7 times before I could really let it flow and lost nervousness.  Shenlei said this is something we’ll have to practice….ha ha, can’t wait for Missy’s turn lol.

Marking the Ribbon for the Box Quilled Trim

Yesterday we worked on the vintage bags a little more. Shenlei taught me how to heat press the painted Miser’s Bag to set the fabric paint so now it’s all ready to be sewn up. [Note: production handbags would be screen printed or have some sort of mass machine-produced method of applying the design.] She also taught me how to do a couture technique called a box quilled ribbon trimming.  This was frustrating as well because I kept pricking myself with little pins. You take a long spool of ribbon (in this case ours was black and about an 1″ wide) and fold it in such a way that it creates a pleat above and below the actual ribbon layer

The Pinned Ribbon Trim

itself.  You must pin them in place and be extremely accurate when doing so so that when you iron them in place, they make a perfect box pleated look. [Note: originally, this trimming was pleated over a goose quill to make the ribbon absolutely parallel and the fold straight, hence the 'quilled".] This will be used as trim to one of my favorite bags in the collection.  Unfortunately we need 2 long and time-consuming yards of box quill which means I’ll be spending a lot of my time creating it.  Can’t wait to show you the final look though!

Ill be going home this weekend so in the meantime I have a lot of sketching to do for revisions on the Sleepy Hollow Shadows line. Ill be talking to you all early on next week. Hope you all have a great Father’s Day weekend!!! Happy Father’s Day Daddy!!! XO

Hugs and Kisses!

Britt*